by Michele Catahay

Guam - "You're told your whole life since you were a kid that sharks are dangerous you're warned about venturing too far into the ocean but then finally you're underwater and you see the thing that you're taught your whole life to fear and its perfect and it doesn't want to hurt you and its he most beautiful thing you've ever seen," said filmmaker Robert Stewart.

He paid a visit to Simon Sanchez High School this morning. Stewart discussed his documentary Sharkwater in an effort to raise awareness for the conservation of sharks and to promote the prevention of shark finning. He was invited to speak at the home of the sharks by student club Sharks MADE, Making a Difference in the Environment.

Club President Evelyn Quiel is hoping that by airing the documentary and hearing from Stewart it will rally her classmates to testify in support of Bill 44 that would ban the trading and selling of shark fins and ray parts locally, telling KUAM News, "It's ruthless and the act is very wasteful because 95% of the sharks body is thrown into the water after the fins are cut off and I think we could do a lot better for the people of Guam."

The public hearing on the bill is scheduled for Tuesday at 5:30pm in the Legislature's Public Hearing Room.